23 February – 1 March 2026

What do you do with a rail pass that gives you unlimited travel across the entire National Rail network for seven days? If you're anything like me, you start in rural Hampshire at 08:58 on a Monday morning and don't stop until you've covered more than 2,500 miles, ridden overnight sleepers, survived two train failures, watched snow settle on the Pennines, and said goodbye to your 84-year-old dad on a London platform.

This is the story of the All Line Rover.

Day 1: Hampshire to the Highlands — 932 Miles

Route: Grateley → Reading → London → Norwich → Lowestoft → Ipswich → London → Inverness (via Caledonian Sleeper)

We covered 932 miles on Day One — and still arrived 52 minutes late.

The trip properly began in Reading, where Dad's train rolled into the platform just as I arrived. We met on the concourse, grabbed the next service to Paddington and had our first proper catch-up of the journey.

London's scale felt overwhelming for him — Paddington, the Elizabeth line, Liverpool Street — the walking, the movement, the noise. But we weren't rushed. That was deliberate.

From Liverpool Street we boarded Greater Anglia's Stadler FLIRT in First Class. Comfortable, calm, and with a genuinely friendly guard who took real interest in our All Line Rover adventure.

At Norwich, with everything running smoothly, we made a spontaneous decision: continue to Lowestoft and tick off the UK's easternmost station before heading south via Ipswich. It meant abandoning our planned London pub dinner — but added another line to the map.

By evening we were at Euston, boarding the Caledonian Sleeper for its 593-mile overnight run to Inverness.

Breakfast in the restaurant car as the Highland landscape rolled past — bacon roll, coffee, and soft Scottish light through the window — that was the moment the trip felt real.

We arrived into Inverness 52 minutes late after a breakdown just outside the city. But that was tomorrow's problem.

Day 1 stats: 932 miles | 10 trains | 57 minutes total delay

Day 2: Improvisation in the Highlands — 222 Miles

Route: Inverness → Strathcarron → Inverness → Kingussie → Inverness

Two days. Two failed trains.

Day Two didn't go to plan — but the Highlands rarely do.

After missing the 08:55 to Kyle of Lochalsh due to the Sleeper delay, we dropped our bags at the hotel and tried again on the 10:55 departure west.

The Kyle Line is dramatic in any weather. Approaching Strathcarron, Dad mentioned the carriage felt colder. Moments later the engine stopped.

Our two-car Class 158 had failed. The rear unit eventually lost lighting, and we were hauled into Strathcarron by the leading vehicle.

Faced with a choice — continue to Kyle and be stranded for three hours due to a cancellation, or return east — we chose to head back to Inverness.

Improvisation led us onto a ScotRail Inter7City HST to Kingussie instead. Proper power cars, Mk3 coaches and First Class coffee. Nothing open at Kingussie — not even the toilets — but the Highland air and the sight of an approaching HST more than compensated.

The railway gave us options. Not the ones we'd planned — but options.

222 miles later, we were back in Inverness with fish and chips and an early night.

Day 2 stats: 222 miles | 4 trains | 15 minutes total delay

Day 3: Highland Calm to East Coast Speed — 392 Miles

Route: Inverness → Edinburgh → York

After two days of breakdowns and Highland improvisation, Day Three was refreshingly simple.

We woke early in Inverness and walked along the River Ness into town. Breakfast was deliberate — an outstanding bacon roll near the Victorian Market, with excellent coffee to match.

The ScotRail Class 170 south to Edinburgh wasn't the strongest First Class experience — no trolley service for the entire 3 hour 51 minute journey — but we ended up sitting opposite a couple who had been on our Sleeper two nights before. The railway world is small.

Signal disruption approaching Edinburgh meant we arrived 19 minutes late, missing our booked connection to York. Flexible tickets made rebooking effortless. We grabbed Welsh cakes from Marks & Spencer and coffee from Caffè Nero before boarding the next LNER Azuma.

The run south from Edinburgh hugged the North Sea coastline past Berwick-upon-Tweed. At an average of 86.8 mph, the East Coast Main Line felt fast, smooth and purposeful. Lunch onboard was chicken tagine and rosé for me, croque monsieur for Dad.

The evening brought a tiny Chihuahua called Midget at The Bay Horse in York, who decided Dad was his new best friend after one injudicious nibble. There was also a gentle comedy of errors with the food service — but when the steak and ale pie finally arrived at the correct table, it was superb.

Day 3 stats: 392 miles | 2 trains | 19 minutes total delay

Day 4: The Lost Locker Key — 321 Miles

Route: York → London King's Cross → London Paddington → Newport

The most stressful part of today's 321-mile rail journey wasn't a delay — it was a £3 locker key.

We woke in York and eased into the morning with a wander around The Shambles before heading to the National Railway Museum for opening time.

After dropping our bags in a locker, I promptly lost the key.

Cue retracing steps across the museum while staff searched for master keys. Just as contingency plans were forming, a kind visitor found it resting on a bench. Crisis over.

The southbound LNER Azuma from York to King's Cross was effortless — 188 miles at an average of 87.7 mph. Croque monsieur, rosé, East Coast Main Line flowing past the window.

From King's Cross across London to Paddington, then west on a very busy GWR service, the network stitched the day together smoothly — only five minutes total delay across 321 miles.

Sometimes rail travel isn't about the epic mileage — it's about how calmly it carries you home.

Day 4 stats: 321 miles | 2 mainline trains | 5 minutes total delay

Day 5: Quality Over Chaos — 201 Miles

Route: Newport → Manchester Piccadilly → Manchester Victoria → Leeds

Day Five was about doing rail travel properly — good food, smooth transfers and a rooftop view at the end.

We opted for a later start out of Newport, boarding the 11:09 Transport for Wales service north from Platform 4.

First Class was busy, but we secured good seats and enjoyed one of the better onboard catering experiences of the week. Tomato soup followed by cheese toasties — simple, well-executed and genuinely enjoyable.

The run north through the Welsh Marches was scenic and relaxed. A light-hearted Threads post about how to pronounce Leominster (spelled Leominster, pronounced "Lemster") generated plenty of interaction.

At Manchester Piccadilly, a staff member recommended the free No.2 bus across to Victoria, which pulled up almost immediately and made the cross-city transfer effortless.

Leeds greeted us with rain — and the DoubleTree Hilton directly opposite the canal exit from the station. As a Hilton Gold member, we received two complimentary drinks and headed up to the rooftop bar. Disco music, balcony views and light rain over the city made for a surprisingly atmospheric stop.

Some days are about distance. Some days are about quality. Day Five was quality.

Day 5 stats: 201 miles | 2 trains | 1 minute total delay

Day 6: The Final Sweep South — 484 Miles

Route: Leeds → Carlisle (via Settle–Carlisle) → London Euston → London Waterloo → Grateley

The final full day together covered 484 miles — but the most important moment happened on a London platform.

We began in Leeds after an excellent night at the DoubleTree. A short walk along the canal and locks set the tone before heading to the station.

Our first leg was the famous Settle–Carlisle railway. The train was busy with walkers and weekend travellers, but comfortable. Snow dusted the higher peaks and visibility was excellent on both sides — whichever way you looked, it was spectacular.

At Carlisle, where temperatures hovered around 4–5°C, we waited for our Avanti West Coast connection south. As we boarded, a steam locomotive rolled into the station.

The Pendolino run south from Carlisle averaged 89.3 mph — smooth, fast and purposeful. Lunch was a cheese board for me and a toasted teacake for Dad. Opposite us sat an Australian filmmaker working on a documentary about famous Australians in Europe — an unexpectedly entertaining travel companion.

We arrived into Euston two minutes early and made our way across London to Paddington. I made sure Dad was comfortably aboard his train back to Newport.

That was the end of our All Line Rover together.

The miles mattered and we'd had an absolute blast together.

From there, I headed to Waterloo to meet my wife. We grabbed snacks from Marks & Spencer and had a small picnic on the train home.

Day 6 stats: 484 miles | 3 trains | 1 minute total delay

Day 7 (Bonus): One More Run

I finished the All Line Rover on Day Six.

My 84-year-old dad did not.

While I stayed home near Salisbury ahead of a night shift, Dad and Mum headed back out. They took the train from Newport to London Paddington, spent a couple of relaxed hours exploring the station, took a photo with the bronze Paddington Bear statue, and made full use of the First Class lounge.

There was no grand mileage plan. No scenic branch lines. No ambitious connections.

Just the simple joy of being on a train.

After 2,555 miles together over six days, he wasn't ready for it to end.

And honestly? I think that's brilliant.

The Numbers

Operators covered: South Western Railway, GWR, Elizabeth line, Greater Anglia, Caledonian Sleeper, ScotRail, LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast, London Underground.

An All Line Rover is a test of planning, resilience and stamina. But at its best, it's something else entirely — a way of seeing the country by its railway spine, from the Highlands to the Welsh Marches to the East Coast, with someone you want to spend time with.

At 84, Dad used every single day of the ticket.

That tells you everything.

#UKRail #AllLineRover #Init4LongHaul